Guirassy brace lifts Dortmund over Sabah
Borussia Dortmund claimed a 2-1 win over Champions League minnow Sabah thanks to Serhou Guirassy's double.
Aden McCarthy gave Sabah hope of causing a huge upset in Baku, but BVB got the job done.
Niko Kovac demanded a response after last week's defeat to Bodo/Glimt, and Dortmund started well at Baki Olimpiya Stadionu.
The visitor went ahead in the 10th minute, with Guirassy on hand to tap home from close range after Stas Pokatilov parried Felix Nmecha's strike.
Pokatilov made a fine double save to deny Joey Veerman and Carney Chukwuemeka, and Sabah made their goalkeeper's work count.
Joy-Lance Mickels saw a goal disallowed for the tightest of offsides, but McCarthy restored parity when he headed in from Tymoteusz Puchacz's free-kick.
Veljko Simic forced Gregor Kobel into action, with Kaheem Parris also drawing a save out of the Dortmund shot-stopper before half-time.
Yet Dortmund restored their lead eight minutes into the second half. Veerman delivered a teasing cross, and Guirassy was on the spot to turn it in.
McCarthy made a fantastic block to deny Guirassy a hat-trick strike, but Sabah did not have it in them to fight back for a second time.
In the other early kick-off, Slavia Prague recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Fenerbahce, with Pavel Kacor netting late on.
Serhou聽Yadaly Guirassy
BV Borussia 09 Dortmund
